Faro de Torrox
Av. el Faro, 28, 29793 Torrox, Málaga, Spain
Name and Location
Faro de Torrox, also known as Punta de Torrox Lighthouse, is a 19th-century coastal beacon located in the municipality of Torrox (Axarquía comarca), Andalusia, Spain. It marks the eastern end of Málaga's Costa del Sol.
Construction and History
The lighthouse was erected in 1864 as part of Spain's mid-19th-century lighthouse network under the Dirección General de la Marina Mercante. Although it has a recognized maritime heritage, there is no formal listing as of current records.
Architecture and Materials
The tower is a cylindrical masonry structure attached to a single-storey keeper's house (now unoccupied). The tower itself stands at 26 meters tall, with a focal plane height of 29 meters above mean sea level. The construction materials used are traditionally rendered stone and brick, typical of Andalusian 19th-century lighthouse design.
Light and Navigation
The International reference for the light is Admiralty E 0074; NGA 113–18428. The light characteristic is a group of four white flashes every 15 seconds (Fl (4) W 15 s). The range of the light is 20 nautical miles, with an optical apparatus that includes a modern rotating beacon. The lighthouse has been fully automated since the late 20th century.
Accessibility and Visiting
The grounds surrounding the lighthouse are publicly viewable, but the tower itself is on private property and not open for interior visits. Visitors can access the site via a short footpath from the coastal promenade and enjoy panoramic sea views stretching east toward Almería and west toward Málaga Bay.
Notable Views and Landscape
The lighthouse sits atop a small headland overlooking the Mediterranean, just behind Torrox Costa beach. The surrounding landscape offers stunning sunsets that are popular with photographers.
Further Information
Technical and Operational Details
The managing authority for the lighthouse is the Spanish Navy's Lighthouse Service (Comisión de faros). Its function remains as an official navigational aid; no AIS or radar installation is reported on-site.
Details
| Name | Faro de Torrox |
|---|---|
| City | Torrox Costa |
| Country | Spain |
| Coordinates | 36.7265631, -3.9573417 |
| Year of construction | 1864 |
| Historic significance | recognized locally for its maritime heritage (no formal listing as of current records). |
| Architectural style | utilitarian with neoclassical influences |
| Construction material | "traditionally rendered stone and brick" |
| Focal height | 29 |
| Tower height | 26 |
| Access description | grounds are publicly viewable but the tower itself is on private property and not open for interior visits. |
| Accessible | true |
| Landscape type | coastal |
| View description | panoramic sea views stretch east toward Almería and west toward Málaga Bay; sunsets here are popular with photographers. |
| Guided tours | false |
| Facilities | toilets, café |
| Nearby attractions | ["Torrox Costa beaches and promenade","Historic town of Torrox Pueblo (2 km inland) with narrow cobbled streets and an 18th-c. church","Coastal walking routes toward neighboring lighthouses at Nerja (east) and Málaga (west)"] |
| AIS Radar | false |
| Light characteristic | "Fl (4) W 15 s" |
| Light range | 20 |
| Automated | true |